Roof for box-cars.



L. C, JORDAN.

RO0F FOR BOX CARS..

, i APPLICATION FILED NOV. I7.lr|9l7; 1,298,220.

Patented Mau'. 25, .1919..

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. C. JORDAN.

ROOF FOR BOX CARS.

APPucArloN FILED Nov.|1.|9l1.

Patented Mar. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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TED y sans PATENT/f LEONARD C.' JORDAN, OF MORSEMRE, NEW JERSEY.

\ ROOF FOR BOX-CARS.

To all who/m, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LiioNAim C. JORDAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Morsemere, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roofs for I Box-Cars, of which the following is a specin commonly known 'as the box car is provided fcation.

The-present invention relates to car roofs, and has more particular reference to an improved roof construction for freight cars of the type commonly known as box cars.

The present type of freight car which is only with side doors, and in some instances with end doors, and in loading and unload- `ing these cars it is necessary to use hand trucks, and to carry heavy articles from latfornis and the like, specially constructed or the purpose; ya time consuming and expensive method, besides limiting tlie size and Weight of the articles to be transported.

The present invention aims, to overcome these disadvantages by the provision of a freight box carwith a roof which may be easily opened to admit the placing of artiv cles of practically any size and weight withinthe capacity of the car, the improved ships on a float or Thel invention also has for an object to [pieces of freight may be structure being such that a crane or hoist may be employed for handling the pieces of freight irrespective of their size; and to admit the direct loadingand unloading of freight cars from ships and the like, by .use

` of the derrick usually carried on the ships,

by bringing the improved cars along side of on a track or a wharf.

provide a ,roof construction wherein when the roof is open, the top of the car is left entirely open and free of obstruction so that readily lowered into and raised out of the ear, and the pieces of freight may be of practically any size within the combines of tlielengt-h of the car.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part described, and in part understood. from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment` the saine being illustra-ted in the accompanynng-` drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elevation ofa frei ht. car of the box type having the improve thereto.

.longitudinal edges of roof of this invention applied.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented h'Ia1'z`25, 191.9.. Application filed November 17, 1917 Serial No. 202,488. y l i box car having a modified form of roof constructioirapplied thereto. i. l

Referring to theseV drawings, 10 designates the body of a freight car of the :box type having the usual side doors 11 and provided elevationl of y with longitudinally extending channel beams 1 12 upon the upper edges of the sidewalls. The beams 12 are arrangedwitli the flanges projecting downwardly, and channel, beams 13 are secured in Iedgewisc relationiipon the the beams 12 to form supports for-the 1roof hereinafter specifically referred to.l .The beams 13 extend longitudinally of the' car and are secured to the outer edges of the r'oof .upper surfaces and near'tlie outer edges of sections at theeaves thereof and are adapted to support'tlie sections upon the beams' 12. Theroof sections are each preferably' inthe forni of a body structure extending longitudinally of the cai' from end to 'end `thereof and arranged toward the opposite i'ality of transverse ribs 1l across the upper edgesgof which is secured a covering ofinetal 15 or the like, over which a weather-proof covering 16 is placed. the roof sections are adapted to meet iiil the medial vertical plane of thc car body, and the inner edges of tlie'roofsections are' reinforced by the provision of channel beams 17 which together forni the ridge ineinberofl the roof, and which are adapted to' seat upon an adjustable cross beam oi' girder 1SL Q'llhe Uirder 18 is arranged iiiterniediatethe ends {dft-lie car body/"10 and rest at itsmoppositej extremities upon angle strips"19` wliicliare" secured to the upper faces of the side beams 12. and which are arranged near the inner i the side beams. rIflie iipstanding -flanges of vthe angle 'beams -or` sides Iofthe car. Each roof section comprises-a plu- The inner edges of l strips 19 comprise stopsadaptedto receive--` the Lower edge portion of the roof bea'ins13 thereagainst, and also serve las weather strips to prevent ,beating in ofrain, wind and* I:the Y like, beneath the roof. The cross beam 18 is v pivotally connected atl one end by abolt 20 wall of the car body when-the roof is opened.

o r'the 'like to onel of side beams 12, andis adapted to be swung about the bolt 2O into the plane of one of the sides of the car to leave an unobstructed passage in the top of car from end to end thereof. A latch 21 or the like may be employed upon the free end of the beam 18 to secure the same to the op-' posite side of the car and thus prevent the bearn'lS from' displacement during travel. One of theroof sections has secured thereto v the running board or tread 22 which overlaps the inner edge of the.- other roof sectionl and which is provided longitudinally with a groove or concavity 23 within which the 'upperedges of the ridge beams 17 are accomeyes 24 arranged near the inner edge of theroof sections and adapted to engage -th'e hook 1 1nodated, and to also receive therein the rolled over inner edges of the outer roof covering 16. The edges of the roof covering 16 are rolled over,'as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose'of preventing the leakage of rain or the like between the meeting edges of the roof sections should the rain beat in beneath the running board 22. Each section of the roof is provided with one or more of a hoist or the like for aiding in the opening of the roof. Each section is also provided with ,onel orA more leyes 25 arranged near the eaves or outer dges of the roof sections adapted tobe eng ged by the hook of a hoist'or the like, for the purpose of closinthe roof.

ach roof section is-connectedat opposite ends to the ends of the car body 10 by pairs of links 26 and 27. Fig. 1 illustrates the application of a pair of the links for the adjacent ends of the roof sections at one eX- tremity of the car. Each link 26 is pivoted at 28 to the end of the car body 10 and is pivoted at its opposite ends by a pin 29 to the adjacent end of the roof section near the inner edge of the, same. The lilik 28 is of suiicient length to carry the inner edge portion of the roof section upwardly and outwardly over the adjacent' corner of the car body 10 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. lVhen in this position the link 26 is employed for the purpose .of holding the roof section relatively flat against the adjacent side wall of the car. f" lach link 27 is relatively shortand is pivotl at 30 to the end of the car body 10 at a point in a horizontal planeabove that of the pivot 2S. The. free end of the link 27 is pivotally connected at 3l to an ear 32 depending' from the adjacent end of the roof section near the eavcv of the latter. the short link 2i being of sutiicient length to guide the outer edge portion of the roofl section over the adjacentcorner of the car body l0. and the pivot 30 being so located upon the end of the car bod)v vraised into lan open position;

as to support the outer-edge portion of the roof section closely against the adjacent side that the intermediate portion of the link 26 is bowed outwardly, vthis construction being-had for the purpose of accommodating the pivot 30 and the adjacent end of the link 27 beneath the lever 26 when the roof is opened.l i'

- The opposite ends of the running board 22 are provided with depending apertured ears 34 which slightly overlap the end portions of the body 10. A hasp 35 'is pivotally mounted atthe end of the body 10, the pivoted'end'fofthe hasp 35 being forked and connected by pins 36 to eyes37 which are se-a cured to the body 10. A hook 38 is pivot-` ally mounted in the fork of the hasp 35 ec centric to pins 36 and is adapted to enter the aperture'of the adjacent ear 34, and te draw theear 34 downwardly to bind the roof closed when the hasp 35 is swung down against the adjacent end of the car body 10. The hasp 35 is slotted at its lower end and adapted to receive therein a staple or apertured lug 39, the latter being adapted to receive a lock 40, a seal or suitable device if n desired.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings there is shown a modified form of connection between the roof sections and theends 4of the car body. In this modified vconstruction the roof sec tions are secured at their eaves by hinges 41 to the side walls of the car body 10, and each roof section is provided on opposite ends with a relatively long link 42 mounted upon a. pivot 43 which projects from the adjacent end of the roof sections intermediate the inner and outer edges thereof. Straps 44 are secured to the opposite ends of the body l0 and are adapted to receive therethrough thc intermediate portions of the links 42, the straps being spaced outwardly from the en d of the body and snpported upon bolts 45. The'frce end portion ofthe link 42 is provided witha notch 46 in one edge adapted to engage in an adjacentbolt 45vand,retain the link 42 from longitudinal movement when the roof section is This con- Istruction prevails with respect to each link 42 for supporting the opposite ends of tlr.x roof section when in raised position. The free ends of the links 42 are provided with stop flanges or heads 4T adapted to engage the straps and hold the links 42 from being withdrawn from wit-hin the straps. These rying roof section is roof section swings about the hinge 41 and .straps 47 also retain the roof section from swinging outwardly lfrom the sides ofthe car body beyond a -predetermined extent.

f With this latter construction, it is Onlynecessary tol provide the eyes 24 adjacent lthe inner abutting edges of the roof sections astheeyes 24 are adapted to .receive the hoisting/ hook or cable therethroughjfor raising and lowering the inner edge 'portions of the roof sections.

In use, when it is desired to open the rof of the car, Vit is ,only necessary to release the hooks 38 from the ears 34 and to then attach the hook or hoisting cable tothe ear p 24 of the roof section which'carries as a part thereof,4 the running board 22. When the roof section of the first described form is thus raised, the links 26 and 27 are swung abouttheir pivots 28 and 30 with the result that the roof sectionis carried over the ad, jacent corner of the car body and is suspended along one side of the car and supported upon Vthe rests 33. The other roof section may now be swung into open position in a similar manner. In the ca se of the modified construction shown in Fig. 5, when an eye 24 of the running board cardrawn upwardly, the

the'link 42 is drawn through the adjacent strap 44. As Vsoon as the roof section is y raised into substantially a vertical position,

the stop 47 engages the strap 44 and the notch ,46 receives the stop 42 from sliding through the strap. The other roof section' of the modified form is raisedin a similar manner,'and' the links 42 are relied upon for retaining the roof section in open position during the removal from or the positioning in of the pieces freight.

In each instance, the beam 18 is employed and as soon as the roof sections are swung into open position, the latch 21 is released and the beam 18 is swung toward one side of the car aboutits pivot 20 and rests upon the adjacent side wall beam 12 out of the way.

In closing the roof, \`the crane or hoist is connected, in the iirst described foim to the outer eye 25 for raising the roof-'sections one at a time into closed position, the links 26 and 27 guiding the roof sections into their proper relative position with the ridge beams 17 abutting.

tent. The ridge beams 17 extend vacross thethe bolt 45 therein to lock employed for transverse beam 18 when the roof is closed and the beam 18 supports It is of course understoodfthat 'various-'f changes'and modifications mayibefmade in the details of construction an'd l design "ofl the above specifically described parts of this" invention without departing yfrom thes'p'iiitl' thereof, such changes'I and'I modifications being restricted', only "y .the'iscope-of ',the" followingclaims. t 'l' f What is claimed is: t I 1. In a car roof, thecombination'With-a b ox ear body, of a pair of opposed roof sections, adapted to be 'opened :and closed;- means for connecting thev 'sections to the car body and guiding the sections in' their open?? ing and closing movements, and an interr mediate brace for said roof sections adjust-1f ably mounted across the' top ofthe car body and adapted to be swung towardone side of the body when the roof isop'en. 2. In acar roof, th'econibination witlifia' box car body, of a pair of opposed roof sections, adapted to'beopened and closed,- said sections including outer coverings. hav!4 ing their meeting edgesirolledover 1to form convex Aengaging surfaces, a' running board: secured to one of said sections, andoverlapping the edge of the other section;- said running board provided with agconcavity in its under surface for-receiving therein. the I rolled over edges of the outer covering.

3. In a car roof, thelcombination' with' a' bo'xcar body, of a pair'of longitudinal roof sections, long links hinged'at oneend. tothe ends of the car body and-at their opposite ends to the inner adjacent edges of lthe roofA l sections when closed, short links pivoted lto the opposite ends of the car body outwardly and above the car body pivot ofithe long links and pivotcd at their endsV toy said roof sections near the eaves" of the isaine,.s'a id roof sections including outer coverings hav,- ing their meeting edgesl rolledfovei' to.form. convex engaging surfaces, a running board secured to one of said sections,.and overlapping lthe edge of the otherseetioiis, "said running board provided vwith la,y concavityiin its under surface for receiving .therein .the rolled over edges of the outer covering.

4. In a car roof, the--coinbiiiation-with',a box car body, of a pairof-opposed longi-tu` dinal roof'sections` means foimconnectingthe roof sections to fthe. car,.-body,and admitting of the swinging of the sections toward and from each other into closed and open positions, said roof sections each including a longitudinally extending ridge beam. and an adjustably mounted cross beam carried npon the car body 4adapted to engage said ridge beams and support the inner meeting edges of the roof sections when closed.

Y 5'. In a car roof construction, the combination with a box car body of a pair of longitudinal roof sections, .meansfor connecting said sections to the car body and admitting of the 'movement of the sections toward and from each other into closed. and

' open positions,.and a transverse beam pivoted at one end to one side of the car body and adapted to be swung across the top of thebodyto forni a brace, the said roof sec- -tions having v"downwardly extending ridge beams 'adapted'to engage across said brace.

fto support the meeting edges of said roof sections' in slightly elevated position.

6. In a car roof construction, the com-v ing arranged to support the sections at the outer sides of the car body when the roof is open, and an intermediate brace adjustably mounted across the top of the car body .and adapted to be swung toward one side o the body when the roof is open. r'

7. In a car roof, the combination with a box car body, of a pair of longitudinal roof sections, long links hinged at one end tothe ends ofthe car body and at their o posite ends tothe inner adjacent edges of t e roof sections when closed, and short links pivotedto the opposite ends of thecar body outwardly and above the car body pivots of the' long links and pivoted at their ends to said roof sections near the eaves of the same.

8. In a car roof, the combination with al box car body, of a pair of longitudinal roof sections, pairsof links connecting the opposite ends of the roof sections to the car body, said pairs of links comprising inner long links and outer short links, the pivots ofthe short links being arranged upon the car body above and outwardly of the pivots of the long links, and rests carried upon the opposits end of the car body adapte to receive the long links tliereagainst for supporting the roof sections against the sides of the ca-r when the roof is open.

9. In a car roof, the combination with a.

box car body, of a pair of longitudinal roof sections, long links hinged at one end to the ends of the car body and at their opposite ends to the inner adjacent edges ofthe roof -sections when closed, short links pivoted to the oppositeends ofthe car body outwardly and above the carv body pivot of the long links and pivoted to the ends of said 4roof sections near the eaves of theA saine, said roof sections each including a longitudinal ridge swung upon movement of the sections into open and closed positions, said links arranged to support the sections atl the outer sides of the car body when the roof isv opened, said roof sections including outer coverings having their meeting edges rolled l over to form convex engaging surfaces, a

running board secured to one of said sections, and overlapping the edge of the other l sections, saidr'unning board provided with a concavity in its under 'surface yfor receiving therein the rolled over edges ofthe outer covering. v

11. In a car'roof, the combination with a `open positions, said roof sectionsfin'cluding outer coverings having their meet-ingedges rolled over to form convex engaging surfaces,a ru1ining board secured to onev ofv said sections, and overlapping the edge of the othersect1on,sa1d running board provided with a concavity in its under surface for receiving therein the rolled over edges of the outer covering, alongitudinally extending ridge beam carried by each of said roof sections, and an adjust-ably mounted cross piece carried upon the car body adapt` ed to engage said ridge beam and support the inner meeting edges of the roof sections when closed;

LEONARD i C. ,.ToRnAN. 

